GYN ROUAIL RISH STRAID ATHOLL – NO RAMBLE ALONG ATHOLL STREET
Our proposed event for Saturday 14th June was a ramble along Atholl Street from Atholl Place to the Whitehouse, looking at the history of how it developed. Had we held it about a month ago, the difficulty might have been heat stroke. As it is, the weather forecast suggests there’ll still be rain hanging around, so, discretion being the better part of valour, the stroll won’t now be taking place. Apologies for that, but it seemed safer to pull the plug rather than take the plunge!
We were to take a break in July and August, so our next scheduled presentation is 6th September : Douglas in Passing : a snapshot of a moment in time and a love story of the Island’s capital by Ian CoulsonSTANDING UP FOR THE CELTIC NATIONS : Singing our countries’ praises
The presentation on 3rd May looked at the background of the National Anthems of the Celtic nations, only two of which have been officially adopted – Ireland’s Amhran na bhFiann in 1924 and our own O Land of Our Birth finally in 2003 – a mere 96 years after being written. We heard about Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, as well as about Yma o hyd, and Bro Goth agan Tasow but also Trelawny, as well as Bro Gozh ma Zadou and Flower of Scotland. Sue Woolley will now give her presentation on MORE MANX WORTHIES later in the year.
You can see our programme of events – 9 throughout 2025, with a summer break in July and August – by clicking here!
BARDAGHT ANNIE KISSACK, RBV – THE POETRY OF ANNIE KISSACK, RBV
We were able to welcome and congratulate Annie Kissack, RBV, the Fifth Manx Bard, on Saturday 5th April when she gave an illustrated talk about the background to her poetry and read some of her work, and it was hugely enjoyable event. You can read more here by clicking here.
A PASSION FOR THE MANX LANDSCAPE
Gura mie mooar ec – thanks very much to – Yvonne Cresswell for sharing her research into William Hoggatt (1879-1961) : Artist and Champion for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside, which was held on Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant, St David’s Day, 1st March. You can read a little about it by clicking here.
ROMANCE OF A RIVER: THE BEAUTY AND HISTORY OF THE COLBY RIVER
Gura mie mooar ec Phil Gawne for telling us something of the background to the film, Romance of a River: The Beauty and History of the Colby River, and then giving us a showing of it. The film is narrated by Phil and tells the story of the Colby River, from where it enters the sea at Kentraugh, to its source on the slopes of Cronk ny Arrey Laa. Read a little about it by clicking here.
FROM PEEL TO FLESHWICK FROM THE SEA – ADAM HORNE
Adam Horne gave us a very interesting presentation, From Peel to Fleshwick from the Sea, on Saturday 11th January, and you can read about it here – though you really had to see it as it was a particularly visual treat!
KIAULL MANNINAGH JIU

Celtic Nation Kernow has been established to continue the legacy of Celtic Congress Cornwall which has existed as a Celtic organisation for over one hundred years. Time and technology has moved forward in ways our forefathers would never have imagined and we are now able to interact worldwide through the power of the internet. Celtic Nation Kernow is an integral and contemporary part of Celtic Congress Cornwall and continues its aims and goals but in a way better suited to the 21st century. You can find out more by clicking here.
INTERNATIONAL CELTIC CONGRESS FACEBOOK PAGE
Len Sheppard, the Vice-Chair of the Cornish branch, prepares a Facebook page for the International Celtic Congress, which can be seen by clicking here. He asks for material for inclusion to be sent to him at associationcornishheritage@gmail.com.
Nyn Mwooise da Margaret Patricia Crellin – Our thanks to Margaret Patricia Crellin
The Manx Branch of the Celtic Congress received a generous bequest from Margaret Patricia Crellin, who passed away in Noble’s Hospital in January 2021 at the age of 91. She was sister to George Crellin of Fiddlers Green, Andreas and a relative of the late John Crellin of Close-e-Kee. Margaret spent some years in Australia but always loved things Manx. She learned the Manx language by getting sets of tapes sent out to her. In addition to her bequest to the Celtic Congress, she also made one to Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh, with which John Crellin was, of course, so closely associated for many years.
Failt erriu gys Banglane Manninagh y Chohaglym Celtiagh
Welcome to the Manx Branch of the Celtic Congress
Eaghtyrane: Brian Kerwin
Lhiass Eaghtyrane: Stewart Bennett
Patroonyn: Clare Christian OBE; Hazel Hannan
Screeudeyr Onn: Bob Carswell
Tashteyder Onn: Bob Carswell
The Branches of the Celtic Congress in each of the six Celtic Nations of Alba (Scotland), Breizh (Brittany), Cymru (Wales), Eire (Ireland), Kernow (Cornwall) and our own Mannin Branch perpetuate the culture, ideals, and languages of the Celtic peoples, and seek to maintain an intellectual contact and close cooperation between the respective Celtic communities.
The Celtic Congress was founded in 1917, though its antecedents go back some years before that, in order to promote the knowlege, use, and appreciation of the languages and cultures of the six Celtic countries. National Branches of the Congress meet in an International Congress each year in order to help further these aims.